Now, she just had a baby, but I’m happy to say, the Tiny Sophisticate is just offering great advice.No, I’m not pregnant again. I likely will not ever be pregnant again. I’m 98% sure I’m all done. But my little cousin is…and by little I mean almost turning 30 this year, but still little to me. As soon as I found out, I forced her to come over and look through my maternity clothes and baby stuff. As it turns out, my baby will be one just before her baby arrives, so there are some things I’d love to give her if she wants them. And I’m secretly hoping she takes it all so I can get rid of it!
Anyway…we talked a lot about what to wear when you are pregnant. Even though I had some maternity clothes (thank you Liz Lange maternity leggings and More of Me Maternity dress), I didn’t have a lot, because I wore a lot of regular clothes, maybe just a size or so larger. I’ve blogged about my maternity fashion before (here and here).
So, I dedicate this post to my cousin Tiffany and offer up some fun outfits for your pregnancy:
Don’t lose your personal style. When I was pregnant the first time around, my mother and I went shopping for some maternity clothes. I bought a few things and NEVER wore them. They weren’t me. And they just didn’t fit right. During my pregnancy, I found regular clothes in a larger size worked better for me. I love the look of this outfit. A pretty shift or empire waist dress (I bought a size or two larger than I normally wear) paired with boots and lots of accessories. Notice these boots from a recent post? Top with a cardigan, or for an edgier look, a dark denim vest. The sweater or jacket can be your regular size, there is no need to button it. After pregnancy, wear the dress belted!
Fitted is often better. Many expecting moms thing maternity wear must be big, baggy and loose. I totally disagree. I loved showing off my bump, and found that fitted tops actually looked much better. A staple outfit for me during my pregnancy included maternity leggings, a long fitted tank top (I bought one size up and they fit until my 9th month) or a maternity tank top, a blazer or cardigan (again, I bought or wore my own size, just didn’t button), and then tied in some fun accessories such as scarves, bangles (love piling on Alex & Ani) and leopard print flats. The staples of this ensemble, the tank and leggings, have endless possibilities. A sequins blazer and heels for a night out? High boots and a chunky cable knit sweater?
Buy lots of accessories. When I was pregnant, I bought very few pieces of clothing, but I SPLURGED on accessories. Why? First of all, they pull any basic outfit together. Secondly, they will fit you during and after pregnancy. I loved wearing soft, stretchy jeggings or skinny jeans while I was pregnant. I bought some cheap ones (Forever21 or Old Navy are great options) in a size or two larger and if they are a low waisted style, you will get a lot of wear out of them. I opted not to buy an expensive pair of maternity jeans and instead bought a few cheap, regular options. This look shows the skinnies paired with a fitted tank, green scarf, gold hoop earrings, shades and Tom’s. This same look would be great with boots or pumps and a blazer.
Maxis are a must! I was pregnant through spring and summer my second time around. My daughter was born on August 1st. My favorite item to wear once the weather turned warm was a maxi dress. I bought a few from H&M and Forever 21. Some were my same size, others were a size larger. And they are forgiving and they stretch. Pair a maxi with an awesome hat, sandals, bangles and a scarf. Toss in a great bag and you are ready for shopping or lunch with girlfriends. The best thing about the maxi dress is it will fit after you are pregnant…and as I mentioned above, so will the accessories!
So, what are the must-have pieces?
- Maternity leggings
- Skinny jeans (low-rise)
- Fitted long tanks
- Maxi dresses (may fit during and after pregnancy)
- Accessories!!!! Scarves, bangles, bags and hats.
- Jackets, vests, cardigans! These can all be your regular size b/c they don’t need to button
